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Cañon City Tigers wrestling team has questions, but confident

Tiger wrestlers Caleb Coffey, left, and Jake Schipper drill Tuesday during practice. Both Tigers are looking to make the state field this year. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

Duff Seaney's not exactly sure what he has on his wrestling team this season, but he likes the Tigers' chances.

Cañon City isn't experienced, it has just three seniors and most of their juniors spent half their time on junior varsity last season. But the team isn't inexperienced either.

"We're going to really a have some good talent, and we'll be able to step up toward the end of the year," said Seaney, who's entering his 25th year running the show for the Tigers.

They'll get a glimpse of what they've got at 9 a.m. today when they travel to the Rocky Ford Invite.

The Cañon City Tigers wrestling season will start today when the Tigers travel to the Rocky Ford Invite. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

The Tigers don't return any wrestlers who went to state last season, but they've got a few who have really high hopes. Junior Garrett Benell will wrestle in the 220-pound weight class, and he's ranked seventh by Tim Yount's On The Mat Rankings. He's joined in the ranks by Jake Schipper (14th in 120s) and Caleb Coffey (19th in 126s). Coffey was unable to certify at 126s, though, and will wrestle in the 132-pound weight class.

Seaney mentioned a few other wrestlers such as Anthony Kelly, who could help the team be strong in duals. Other returners include Cody Simms, Kyser Seaney, Gaven Guess, Spencer Bethune and Blake Repshire.

That's a large plan, given that the Colts are ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by Yount. Seaney likes their chances also. He said that despite South having the most talent in the South-Central League, he thinks the Colts might be weak in duals. Seaney points to their Dec. 20 dual against the Pueblo Central Wildcats as their biggest of the season.

"We're a lot stronger this year," Schipper said. "I think we spread our middleweights out a lot better, we're not as bunched up as we were last year. I think we'll be better at the middle weights."

The personal goal is easily set for most of the wrestlers: make state. That's definitely true for Schipper, a senior who has yet to qualify. Benell also missed out last year after a tough loss in the regional tourney before he fell all the way to sixth.

This year the Tigers will travel to the Region 1 tournament at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs on Feb. 15-16. The Class 4A state tournament is the following week at Pepsi Center in Denver.

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